Fitzmagic: Fitzpatrick brothers make history with Zurich Classic win

Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick do some of their best work as a pair.

When Alex was 13 years old, he caddied for his brother, Matthew, 17, at the time, at the 2013 U.S. Amateur. Alex still remembers the prize that he received for big bro winning the Havemeyer Trophy.

“My goal for the week was winning an iPhone off my dad, who promised me, if we won the tournament,” Alex recalled. “Obviously he never expected (us) to.”

He got a much better one for teaming with his brother to win the Zurich Classic at New Orleans on Sunday, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour.

Matt Fitzpatrick hands a ball to partner Alex Fitzpatrick as they walk off the eighth green during the final round of the 2026 Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.

The Fitzpatricks made birdie in the foursome format at 18 to shoot 1-under 71 at TPC Louisiana in the Crescent City suburb of Avondale to edge Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer and Kristoffer Reitan and Kristoffer Ventura by one stroke and become the first brothers and family members to win the title. Matt, who won for the third time in his last five starts, became the first player in over two years to win in back-to-back events.

Matt splashed out of the front greenside bunker at 18 and spun it to a foot and younger brother Alex tapped in the birdie putt to secure the win with a 72-hole total of 31-under 257.

It looked as if the brother Fitzpatrick would coast to victory in the Big Easy but closing on Sundays on the PGA Tour is rarely a walk in the park. They made three birdies in the first 11 holes but it began unraveling when Matt drove right and behind a tree. Alex’s punch shot ricocheted off a tree and it cost them dearly – their first double bogey of the week. They escaped with par at 13 after Alex hit a world-class lob shot to tap-in range but they weren’t so lucky at the par-3 14th and their lead was gone.

“You wonder who is feeling more nervous now,” said Daniel Chopra, an analyst on PGA Tour Radio. “Is it Matt playing for his brother or Alex trying to get his first win on the PGA Tour?